Written Answers Wednesday 24 September 2008

Scottish Executive

Airports

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive which airport operators ministers have met since May 2007; when these meetings took place; who was present, and what issues were discussed at each meeting.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers have met airport operators on 10 occasions since May 2007 and were accompanied by a senior official from the Scottish Government at each meeting. The information is set out in the following table:

  

 Minister
 Date
 Airport Operator
 Reason for Visit/Meeting and Issues Discussed


 First Minister
 22 June 2007
 BAA Aberdeen
 Attendance at redevelopment of Aberdeen Airport’s terminal building


 Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
 26 September 2007
 Glasgow Prestwick Airport
 Surface accessFreightInternational links


 Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
 2 October 2007
 BAA
 Competition CommissionSurface accessEnvironmental issuesInvestment Programme, including Master Plans


 Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
 6 November 2007
 Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL)
 Briefing and dinner for Stewart Stevenson and MSPs


 Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
 29 November 2007
 HIAL
 Dundee AirportInverness terminalPolicy and Financial Management ReviewAir links


 First Minister
 11 March 2008
 Glasgow Prestwick Airport
 Surface accessFreightMaster Plan


 Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
 24 April 2008
 HIAL
 Dinner with HIAL Board


 John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
 7 May 2008
 BAA
 Air linksSurface accessCompetition CommissionMaster PlansStrategic Transport Projects Review


 Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
 14 August 2008
 Argyll and Bute Council
 Oban Airport opening


 John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
 11 September 2008
 BAA
 Environmental issuesCompetition CommissionMaster Plans

Airports

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any ministers have met representatives of BAA since May 2007 and, if so, when these meetings were, who was present and what matters were discussed.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers have met senior officials from BAA on four occasions since May 2007 and were accompanied by a senior official from the Scottish Government at each meeting. The information is set out in the following table:

  

 Minister
 Date
 Reason for Visit/Meeting and Issues Discussed


 First Minister
 22 June 2007
 Attendance at redevelopment of Aberdeen Airport’s terminal building


 Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
 2 October 2007
Competition CommissionSurface accessEnvironmental issuesInvestment programme, including Master Plans


 John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
 7 May 2008
Air linksSurface accessCompetition CommissionMaster PlansStrategic Transport Projects Review


 John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
 11 September 2008
Environmental issuesCompetition CommissionMaster Plans

Bridges

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the legal pursuit of the recovery of the cost of the repairs to the Erskine Bridge following the incident involving an offshore structure.

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what companies were deemed to be responsible for the damage caused to the Erskine Bridge by an offshore structure and how much money was recovered from each of the organisations concerned.

Stewart Stevenson: The Erskine Bridge was damaged in 1996 when it was struck by an oil rig platform being towed from the construction yard to the North Sea. As a result of this incident, the bridge was closed for about six months.

  During 2007 an agreement was reached with the parties involved to refer the matter to formal mediation which took place between 12 and 15 November 2007. Mediation is an alternative method of resolving commercial disputes which may be useful where there is a willingness from the parties to discuss resolution outwith formal court proceedings. The mediation resulted in a formal agreement that the parties would reimburse the sum of £4,850,000 in damages to Scottish ministers incurred as a result of the Erskine Bridge incident.

  The matter was drawn to a complete conclusion by 17 December 2007 with receipt of the following sums in reparations:

  

 Party
 Amount Recovered


 BOS UIE Limited
£4,039,500


 Coflexip Stena Offshore Limited (now known as Technip UK Ltd)
£ 450,000


 Saipem UK Limited
£300,000


 ABB Lummus Global Limited 
£60,500


 Total Recovered
£4,850,000



  Two other parties were involved in the incident at the time, Astileros Y Talleres Del Noroesta SA and Hollingworth Murray Technical Services Ltd. These companies could not be pursued in the Court of Session as neither was any longer in existence.

Census

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15893 by John Swinney on 17 September 2008, in what ways a register covering the whole population would differ from a national identity register.

John Swinney: In this context, a register covering the whole population would be a list of everybody resident in Scotland on a particular date, similar to the census. Like the census, it would be used for statistical and research purposes, not as a way of establishing identity.

Climate Change

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tonnes of CO2 it estimates are emitted annually by (a) electric trains, (b) diesel trains, (c) public motor vehicles, (d) private motor vehicles and (e) commercial motor vehicles.

Stewart Stevenson: Emissions estimates are not produced for the specific categories requested.

  However, carbon emissions from all sources, including road and rail transport, are published annually in Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The most recent publication covers emissions between 1990 and 2006, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46558).

Climate Change

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the average output of CO2 emissions is per mile travelled per person travelling by (a) train, (b) bus and (c) private vehicle.

Stewart Stevenson: The UK Government’s Department for Transport’s Carbon Pathways Analysis: Informing Development of a Carbon Reduction Strategy for the Transport Sector , published in July 2008, provides information on CO 2 emissions per passenger kilometre, by mode across the UK. These figures, found on pages 83 to 84 of the document, can be used to derive average emissions per passenger mile http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/analysis.pdf .

Climate Change

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to reduce the current time-lag in aggregate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to speed up the reporting of aggregate greenhouse gases.

Stewart Stevenson: Together with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations, we are planning to commission a review of the current disaggregated greenhouse gas inventory that will include investigating whether data can be published earlier.

Climate Change

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions was achieved in the (a) energy, (b) transport, (c) housing, (d) agriculture and (e) public sector between May 2007 and May 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: Greenhouse gas emissions data for the energy, transport, housing, agriculture and public sectors between May 2007 and May 2008 are not available. The most recent data on emissions from individual sectors is available in Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990-2006 published by AEA Energy and Environment on 18 September 2008. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46558).

Concessionary Travel

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15225 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 August 2008, whether it will guarantee that free travel for elderly and disabled people will be maintained for the same times of day, seven days per week, for the next three years for all people aged 60 and over, for the whole of Scotland

Stewart Stevenson: We have already confirmed that the eligibility criteria, for all those people who currently benefit from the scheme, would be maintained.

Cycling

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £196,000 of funding to Scottish Borders Council for cycling, walking and safer streets initiatives in 2008-09 is ring-fenced.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes, the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets grant is ring-fenced. I refer the member to the question S3W-15558, answered on 8 September 2008, for details of the allocation of funding to each local authority. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility can be found at:

  www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Cycling

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is being invested in Sustrans in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 for maintaining and extending the National Cycle Network.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government issued a grant offer of £5.015 million payable over the financial year 2008-09 to Sustrans earlier this year, of which £3.5 million is capital. This is in connection with work undertaken on the National Cycle Network and active travel projects including the school run.

  The Scottish Government will shortly start discussions with Sustrans regarding funding arrangements for financial year 2009-10.

Cycling

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £9.09 million investment for cycling, walking and safer streets is being spent on cycling, walking and safer streets projects.

Stewart Stevenson: The cycling, walking and safer streets grant is ring fenced, it is therefore anticipated that the whole grant will be spent on cycling, walking and safer streets projects.

Drug Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued on the medical management in standard police cells and legalised cells of prisoners who (a) have an untreated drug dependency and (b) are enrolled in a drug treatment programme.

Fergus Ewing: Medical management of prisoners in standard police cells and legalised cells of prisoners with an untreated drug dependency or who are enrolled in a drug treatment programme is determined at a local level. Each police force in Scotland has arrangements in place for the health care of those in their custody. A prisoner would generally only be allocated a legalised police cell if there were not enough time to take him or her to a prison, having been remanded or convicted in court. Prisoners would therefore only spend a very short time in such a cell before either being taken back to court or transferred to a prison.

  The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary are currently looking at the range of existing arrangements for provision of medical services in police custody with a view to identifying best practice models which can be deployed to suit local circumstances.

Ferry Services

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12705 by Stewart Stevenson on 15 May 2008, what supplementary grant payments have been made to CalMac Ferries Ltd to cover increases in the cost of fuel.

Stewart Stevenson: Under the terms of the contract between Scottish ministers and CalMac Ferries Ltd which began on 1 October 2007, the Scottish Government has paid CalMac Ferries Ltd a total of £5.2 million in additional supplementary grant payments to cover the increases in fuel costs.

Ferry Services

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9536 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 March 2008 and the intervention made by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change during the debate on ferry services on 10 September 2008 ( Official Report c. 10640), whether there remains scope in the budget for the proposed Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service.

Stewart Stevenson: On 5 March 2008 I indicated that there was scope within the budget to fund a ferry service from Castlebay and Lochboisdale to Mallaig. The current proposal from Storas Uibhist is not for a service from Castlebay and Lochboisdale to Mallaig, but for a dedicated additional Lochboisdale to Mallaig service. Discussions are continuing with a view to resolving a number of issues to deliver our shared aim of providing a viable and sustainable ferry service linking Lochboisdale and Mallaig.

Ferry Services

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to answer S3W-15433 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 September 2008, whether it remains its view that there is no domestic legal impediment or European Union regulation that would prevent a publicly subsidised ferry service being run by an operator other than CalMac Ferries Ltd between Lochboisdale and Mallaig and, if not, what the reasons are for the change in its position.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15433 on 3 September 2008. There has been no change in the Scottish Government’s position. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Ferry Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its estimate of the difference in cost between providing the current combined ferry service on the Gourock to Dunoon route and a passenger only service on this route is £1.6 million, as stated by Councillor Roy Pederson in his submission to the European Commission’s inquiry into state aids and Scottish ferries and, if not, what its estimate is.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers are currently examining the options that are available for the route. The Scottish Government, Argyll and Bute Council and Inverclyde Council are working together in a tri-partite arrangement to deliver a Gourock to Dunoon service. We understand that there is strong support within the Cowal community for a vehicle and passenger ferry service between Gourock pier and Dunoon town centre.

  We remain committed to delivering the best possible outcome for the local communities. We are working hard to identify a solution for the Gourock-Dunoon route that would go as far as possible towards meeting local aspirations, whilst respecting EU law.

  Consequently, it would be premature to comment on Councillor Pedersen’s financial analysis of the option he suggests.

  An announcement on future plans for the service will be made as soon as possible.

Fuel

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the use of Ethos FR and other fuel additives in the public sector and more widely and what tests or reviews of tests it has undertaken on these products.

Stewart Stevenson: We are supportive of any sustainable technology that can demonstrate reduced emissions from transport and increase fuel efficiency. Ethos FR is one of a number of commercial products that claims to offer these benefits. However, Scottish ministers cannot endorse specific products, nor can we promote their use to the wider public sector. Fleet management is an operational matter for each organisation concerned.

  Fuel policy and legislation are matters reserved to the UK Government. Assessment of products such as fuel additives is required to be carried out by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), an executive agency of the UK Department for Transport. Arrangements for testing such products can be made with the VCA.

Health and Safety

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will restrict any planned development of existing opencast mines where it has been clearly established in a court of law that the operating company has previously committed a breach of on-site safety regulations leading to on site employee accidents and deaths.

Stewart Stevenson: There is no provision within planning or health and safety legislation to restrict development at one site because of a conviction for a health and safety offence at another site. Planning permission, if granted, does not remove the need to comply with other statutory regimes. This includes the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and other general health and safety legislation covering workers in the opencast industry. Specific regulations, the Quarries Regulations 1999, also apply. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for enforcing this legislation and has powers to take action to secure compliance when necessary. HSE can also apply lessons from one investigation to other sites.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15579 by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 September 2008, whether the Infection Control Manager reported any problems at the Vale of Leven Hospital to the Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde between December 2007 to June 2008 and, if so, when.

Nicola Sturgeon: I fully anticipate that full details of the procedures followed during this outbreak will be set out in the Outbreak Control Team’s report which will be produced in due course.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15497 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 September 2008, whether it considers that the nine full ward terminal cleans carried out at Vale of Leven Hospital between 21 December 2007 and 25 April 2008 were for Clostridium difficile rather than norovirus outbreaks, based on the evidence which has since come to light.

Nicola Sturgeon: No. I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that within this period, the Infection Control Team at the Vale of Leven Hospital specifically detected outbreaks of Norovirus on a number of occasions. On each of these occasions the wards concerned were closed and the outbreak managed in accordance with the national guidance on the Roles and Responsibilities of Incident Control Teams. This included instruction to the hospital’s domestic services to undertake a terminal clean prior to the re-opening of the affected ward.

Housing

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the £100 million from the Affordable Housing Investment Programme will be earmarked for new affordable housing in the south of Scotland region, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15759 on 16 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk./webapp/wa.search .

Housing

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is taking forward the development of open-market Homestake.

Stewart Maxwell: The new open market shared equity pilot scheme (OMSEP) was developed on the basis of the findings of the Scottish Government’s evaluation of the former open market Homestake pilot scheme. In particular, a number of changes have been made to improve the targeting of the scheme. We are closely monitoring progress in the operation of the new scheme and will make amendments where appropriate. On 19 August 2008, we increased the maximum (threshold) prices for properties which can be purchased through OMSEP to give first time buyers a wider choice of properties which they can purchase through the scheme.

  A full evaluation of the scheme, along with the new supply shared equity scheme, will be carried out by the end of 2010.

Housing

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what eligibility criteria are used to assess access to open-market Homestake.

Stewart Maxwell: The previous open market Homestake pilot scheme was replaced in January 2008 by a new open market shared equity pilot scheme (OMSEP), which forms part of the Scottish Government’s low-cost initiative for first time buyers. OMSEP is principally targeted at allowing first time buyers on low to moderate incomes to access entry-level home ownership. However, it can also be accessed by others, such as people with disabilities whose current home does not suit their needs or people who have a experienced a significant change in their household circumstances.

  The criteria used by registered social landlords to determine eligibility for OMSEP are set out in the grant procedures for the scheme. A copy of these procedures along with details of current threshold prices for OMSEP, which are the maximum prices of property which may be purchased in each region where the scheme operates, is available on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/Buying Selling/lift/.

International Development

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings Scottish ministers have had with the Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland (NIDOS) or any of the development agencies based in Scotland regarding its international development programme.

Linda Fabiani: Scottish ministers have met with the following development agencies in Scotland. This excludes organisations which are not classed as development agencies such as higher and further education institutes but which are involved in development activity:

  

 Minister
 Date
 Organisation
 Information


 Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture
 19 June 2007
 Oxfam
 Introductory meeting with Judith Robertson & Shabnum Mustapha.


 
 20 June 2007
 Scottish International Relief (SIR) (Mary’s Meals)
 Meeting: Magnus McFarlane Barrow and Peter Mkata.


 
 26 June 2007
 NIDOS Scotland-Malawi Partnership (SMP)
 5th Meeting of the Scotland-Malawi High Level Group.


 
 9 July 2007
 SCIAF
 Darfur Emergency Response Operation Announcement.


 
 23 August 2007
 NIDOS SMP
 Joint Meeting with NIDOS and SMP.


 
 28 August 2007
 Oxfam (Acting on Behalf of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum)
 Meeting: Betsy Reid (Oxfam).


 
 25 September 2007
 Christian Aid
 Meeting: Representatives Christian Aid.


 
 6 October 2007
 SCIAF
 Key Note Speech to SCIAF Supporters Conference.


 
 11 October 2007
 SCVO
 Visit to SCVO to meet Ronald Mtonga Deputy Chief Executive of CONGOMA.


 
 15 October 2007
 Oxfam
 Photocall Oxfam Shop East Kilbride.


 
 24 October 2007
 Oxfam
 Attended Screening of film "Black Gold" an Oxfam-Sponsored Event.


 
 25 October 2007
 Concern Worldwide
 Attended book Launch: "Poverty, Aids & Hunger: Breaking the Poverty Trap in Malawi". Concern Worldwide-Sponsored Event.


 
 1 November 2007
 Imani Enterprise
 Attended Trade Connections Event – Glasgow.


 
 20 November 2007
 NIDOSSMP
 6th Meeting of Scotland-Malawi High Level Group.


 
 27 November 2007
 Members of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)
 Photocall for DEC Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal.


 
 28 November 2007
 Opportunity International (UK)
 Attended Reception and Dinner Hosted by HRH the Princess Royal on Behalf of Opportunity International (UK).


 
 4 December 2007
 NIDOS
 Attended NIDOS reception.


 
 31 January 2008
 Imani Enterprise
 Meeting: Representatives from Imani Enterprises.


 
 26 February 2008
 Scottish Relief International (SIR) (Mary’s Meals)
 Meeting: Sir Tom Farmer and Magnus McFarlane-Barrow.


 
 28 February 2008
 Scottish Fair Trade Forum
 Meeting: Scottish Fair Trade Forum and Julius Ethanga (Tea Producer).


 
 26 March 2008
 Tearfund
 Meeting: Nelson Mkandawire, Chisomo Children’s Club – Tearfund sponsored event.


 
 24 April 2008
 Oxfam
 Attended Oxfam Global Campaign for Education Schools Debate event.


 
 9 May 2008
 Members of DEC
 Attend DEC Burma Appeal Meeting.


 
 17 May 2008
 Red Cross
 Attended Red Cross Reception.


 
 26 June 2008
 Church of Scotland
 Meeting: Representatives of the Church of Scotland World Mission Council.


 
 16 July 2008
 Scottish Fair Trade Forum
 Meeting: Scottish Fair Trade Forum.


 
 3 September 2008
 Islamic Relief
 Attended Islamic Relief Reception.


 First Minister
 30 May 2007
 SCIAF
 Briefing on Situation in Darfur


 
 26 June 2008
 Oxfam
 Addressing Parliamentary reception.


 
 21 August 2008
 SCIAF
 Meeting with Paul Chitnis.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reoffending rate after two years is for offenders who have completed custodial sentences.

Kenny MacAskill: The two year reconviction rate of offenders discharged from custody in 2004-05 was 62%.

Local Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13676 by John Swinney on 9 June 2008, what projections it has made of the cost of borrowing (a) £10,000, (b) £100,000, (c) £1 million, (d) £10 million and (e) £1 billion through a bond issue.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13676 by John Swinney on 9 June 2008, what projections it has made of the cost of borrowing (a) £10,000, (b) £100,000, (c) £1 million, (d) £10 million and (e) £1 billion in six months’ time through a bond issue.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has examined the borrowing options available and the associated costs. We have made clear that the newly formed Scottish Futures Trust will be looking further at a range of financial approaches to funding capital schemes, including bonds, to assess how to achieve maximum benefits for taxpayers and users of infrastructure. The costs of borrowing will be an important part of that assessment, and will depend on a number of factors including the nature of the project and the market conditions prevailing at the time.

NHS Hospitals

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS hospitals have outsourced cleaning and janitorial services, with the exception of PFI/PPP contracted-out services.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are currently two hospitals, excluding those with PFI/PPP contracted-out services, where cleaning services are delivered using outsourced service providers.

  These are at Drumchapel in Glasgow where there is an open-ended contract which Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board are proposing to return to an in-house service by the end of this year and in Shetland where a five year contract was entered into in the early part of 2007. Shetland Health Board are seeking to return this to an in-house service before the contract expires in 2012.

  There are no known instances where janitorial services at NHSScotland hospitals are delivered using outsourced service providers.

Police

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines there are for police forces in relation to the translation into English of evidence in other languages.

Kenny MacAskill: The translation into English of evidence in other languages is an operational matter for individual chief constables to determine. The Working Group on Interpreting and Translation, whose members include the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Court Service, and the Scottish Legal Aid Board, considers issues and shares best practice on interpretation and translation across the criminal justice system in Scotland.

Public Appointments

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what precautions it takes to ensure that appointees to Scottish Government bodies avoid conflicts of interest and publicly disclose recordable interests.

John Swinney: For OCPAS regulated appointments, conflicts of interest are fully explored at the interview stage, should an applicant get that far in the process.

  When ministers are asked to decide on whether to appoint a candidate who has a conflict of interest, they do so fully aware of the facts surrounding the conflict of interest and of the selection panel’s view on the candidate’s suitability for appointment.

  Appointment rounds that are not regulated by OCPAS are encouraged to follow exactly the same procedures in order to avoid the interference of conflicts of interest in the work of appointees.

  As regards members who have been appointed to public bodies, there is clear guidance on the procedures to be followed. Guidance issued by the Standards Commission in April 2008 reminded public bodies of their duty to set up, maintain and make available for public inspection a register of the interests of their members. It also encouraged that the register of interests should be made available on their websites.

  In accordance with the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Act 2000 most public bodies have a Code of Conduct which requires members interests to be registered. The Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Act 2000 (Register of Interests) Regulation 2003 requires all members to register their relevant interests not later than one month after the date of their appointment. The regulations further state that each devolved public body shall normally have a standards officer and that the standards officer will maintain that record in respect of any person for five years after the date that that person ceases to be member of the public body.

  The Standards Commission is currently liaising with public bodies to ensure that a register of interests is published on the website of each public body.

Public Appointments

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the remuneration of each individual appointed to each non-departmental public body and agency since May 2007.

John Swinney: Details of the remuneration of public appointees on the boards of non-departmental public bodies are on the Scottish Government website at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/directory.

  The remuneration of board members of agencies is not held centrally. This information will be available in the annual reports of each agency which will be published on the internet.

Public Sector Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements there are for national workforce planning on a Scotland-wide basis for (a) teachers, (b) doctors, (c) dentists, (d) nurses, (e) veterinary surgeons, (f) chiropodists and podiatrists, (g) physiotherapists and (h) social workers.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of a shortage or over-supply of (a) teachers, (b) doctors, (c) dentists, (d) nurses, (e) veterinary surgeons, (f) chiropodists and podiatrists, (g) physiotherapists and (h) social workers.

Nicola Sturgeon: Supply and demand of staff in these professional groups is complex and many factors contribute to dynamic fluctuations in numbers. Measureable indicators, such as vacancy rates can be suggestive of either staff shortage or excess but alone can be misleading. Workforce planning arrangements (as asked in related question S3W-15835, answered on 24 September 2008) differ for each of these staff groups.

  Teachers: Currently the supply and demand is of teachers by the annual teacher workforce planning exercise which is undertaken at a national level to ensure there are sufficient numbers of teachers in publicly funded schools. The exercise takes account of pupil projections and numbers of teachers leaving and entering the profession. The current aim is to maintain teacher numbers at approximately 53,000, bearing in mind currently 6,000 teachers per annum are expected to leave teaching each year for the next few years. A Teacher Employment Working Group has been established which will assess the teacher workforce planning process, as inherited by the previous administration. The group will report to Ministers in autumn 2008.

  The Scottish Government carries out a teacher vacancy assessment each February. The latest survey in February 2008 shows that only 0.4% of the full complement of teaching posts was vacant over three months. Vacancies over three months are usually taken as an indicator of teacher shortage as it discounts the normal turnover of staff, this indicates there is no shortage at present.

  Doctors and nurses: Workforce planning for doctors and nurses (and other health care professionals) is set out in the National Workforce Planning Framework which is available at the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/30112522/25230.

  Modelling for the doctor and nurse professions is currently underway however, as this will not be finalised until November it is not possible at this time to estimate the shortage or over-supply. Workforce details for NHSScotland are published on the Scottish health statistics website under Workforce Statistics at:

  www.isdscotland.org/workforce.

  Robust workforce planning arrangements are in place to ensure there are sufficient numbers of healthcare workers to meet health care demand. NHS boards work to an annual planning cycle, publishing new workforce plans in April of each year. Regional Workforce Plans are published each September. NHS board and Regional plans inform the National Workforce Plan published each December.

  Dentists: The number of NHS dentists in Scotland has increased by over 25% between 1996 and 2007. Dental Workforce planning in Scotland is informed by work undertaken by the Dental Workforce Project, an on-going collaboration between NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland and supported by the Scottish Government’s National Workforce Planning Unit. The Project, which examines supply and demand forecasts for NHS dentists in Scotland, publishes its next report on 25 September 2008. It is expected to report good progress with respect to workforce targets.

  Veterinary surgeons: The vet profession is a reserved area. The Scottish Government does not undertake workforce planning for the vet profession as this is principally a matter for the Royal College of Veterinary surgeons and the UK University funding councils. Whilst government pays a number of veterinarians the number of vets is principally a commercial matter.

  Chiropodists/Podiatrists: There is no confirmed current over or under-supply of chiropodists/podiatrists. Vacancy rates are low at 1.6% for vacancies over three months, indicating adequate supply.

  Physiotherapists: Current workforce statistics indicate a steady increase in the number of qualified physiotherapists in post in NHSScotland. Latest available NHS board workforce planning projects an 6.9% increased demand for physiotherapists over the next three years with possible over-supply of junior practitioners.

  Training numbers however, for Allied Health Professions, such as chiropodists/podiatrists and physiotherapists are not controlled centrally (as for medical and nursing undergraduate places). In the non-controlled subjects there is a market place economy with Universities responding to demand from students for places rather than demand from employers. However, there is continuing dialogue with the Scottish Funding Council and higher education institutions to inform them of forecast demand. In addition, it is for NHS boards to decide the number and skill mix of staff needed to deliver services in their area.

  Social workers: While there is no specific estimate of shortage or over-supply, the current vacancy rate for local authority social workers is a relatively high 7.4% (399 vacancies). Although vacancies have decreased from a high of 13% in 2003, this indicates a continuing demand for social workers. Social work student numbers are increasing however and will ensure a steady supply of new social workers coming into the profession. The Scottish Government continues to work with its partners to monitor and predict demand for social work services and also the supply of new social workers, as well as monitoring current employment and vacancy levels in the sector. The Scottish Government is currently working with COSLA to consider how the workforce planning function at employer level can be promoted.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Rail Network

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to bringing First ScotRail into some form of public or mutual ownership.

Stewart Stevenson: The extension of the ScotRail franchise contract allows time for options concerning the status of ScotRail to be included in the consultation exercise prior to any refranchising process.

Rail Network

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15716 by Stewart Stevenson on 10 September 2008, what investment is being made and action taken to ensure that there is no repeat of the flooding incident that took place between Waverley and Haymarket stations during summer 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: The recent flooding in Princes Street Gardens was due to a severe downpour. The volume of water was overwhelming and the drainage systems (both railway and local authority which the railway feeds into) could not cope. Network Rail is developing a scheme that will protect the railway from similar future downpours.

Rail Network

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to close or resite the South Gyle railway station as part of the proposals for a railway station at Gogar.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has no plans to close or resite the South Gyle Railway Station at present.

Rail Services

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of reported breakdowns of trains in each year from 1990 to 2005, broken down by (a) electric and (b) diesel-powered type.

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of delayed trains reported in each year from 1990 to 2005, broken down by (a) electric and (b) diesel-powered type.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government took over management of the franchise in October 2005, and therefore Transport Scotland does not hold this information.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a report from the inquiry reporter following the public local inquiry into the proposed wind farm development at Merranblo, Stromness, Orkney.

Stewart Stevenson: It is anticipated, at this stage, that the report will be submitted by the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals in the first week in October.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to make a decision in relation to the proposed wind farm development at Merranblo, Stromness, Orkney.

Stewart Stevenson: It is anticipated, at this stage, that the report will be submitted by the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) in the first week in October.

  Scottish Planning Policy 1: The planning system seeks to ensure that 80% of all applications called-in for determination by Scottish ministers are determined within two months of receipt of the report from the DPEA and 100% of cases within three months.

Road Accidents

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of average speed cameras on the A78(T) has been considered in order to reduce the incidence of traffic accidents.

Stewart Stevenson: The effectiveness of the A77 average speed camera system will be fully assessed once three full years of data is available. The potential to introduce more average speed cameras will be informed by this assessment towards the end of 2008, once accident data is available for the three full years since implementation.

Road Safety

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to deter motorists from speeding on the A78(T).

Stewart Stevenson: The management of speed is a primary consideration of road authorities, police forces, and Safety Camera Partnerships. Under the Scottish Safety Camera Programme, two mobile camera sites have been established on the A78. One is sited on Inverkip Road, Greenock the other on Main Road, Fairlie. Since these sites were established, the average traffic speed at the camera sites has fallen to 27mph and 32mph respectively.

  In addition to the deployment of safety cameras, the police regularly patrol the A78 and enforce a wide range of road traffic legislation including those laws relating to speeding.

  Transport Scotland is trialling various types of 30mph reminder vehicle activated signs within villages as part of its speed management strategy. On the A78, villages included in the trial are Skelmorlie and Seamill. Once the most effective and reliable system has been established this initiative will be extended, where appropriate, to other villages. These signs should begin to be installed from 2009.

Road Safety

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of (a) traffic lights or (b) a roundabout on the A78(T) at Inverkip has been considered in order to reduce the incidence of traffic accidents.

Stewart Stevenson: There are currently no proposals to signalise existing junctions or construct roundabouts on the A78 trunk road at Inverkip.

Roads

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust will be used to fund the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16207 on 23 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

School Transport

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £1 million that is rolled up into the local authority block grant for school travel co-ordinators is being spent on such co-ordinators.

Stewart Stevenson: It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

Schools

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the recently announced school estate working group.

Fiona Hyslop: The remit of the joint Scottish Government / COSLA School Estate Strategy Working Group is to develop a new school estate strategy, as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Improving the school estate .

Schools

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how often the recently announced school estate working group will meet.

Fiona Hyslop: The intention is that the School Estate Strategy Working Group will meet at least monthly.

Schools

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership will be of the recently announced school estate working group.

Fiona Hyslop: The current membership of the joint Scottish Government / COSLA School Estate Strategy Working Group is comprised as follows: Robert Nicol, COSLA, co-chair; Eileen Gill, Scottish Government, co-chair; Laura Jamieson, COSLA; Dave Jones, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives; Murdo Mciver, Association of Directors of Education Scotland (ADES), and Moira Niven, ADES. The secretariat is being provided by the Scottish Government.

Schools

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the findings from the recently announced school estate working group are expected.

Fiona Hyslop: The intention is to publish a new school estate strategy in spring 2009.

Schools

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the minutes of the meetings of the recently announced school estate working group will be made available to the public.

Fiona Hyslop: Action points from each meeting of the School Estate Strategy Working Group will be published on the Scottish Government website.

Scottish Futures Trust

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Sir Angus Grossart will be entitled to (a) receive remuneration or (b) claim expenses in connection with his role as chair of the Scottish Futures Trust and, if so, how much has been budgeted for these expenditures for (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.

John Swinney: The Chair of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is entitled to receive remuneration in line with the limits set by the government for such fees. The remuneration set for this post is just over £15,000 a year. However Sir Angus Grossart, following his appointment as chair, has waived his entitlement to remuneration. In line with public appointments generally, the chair will be entitled to receive reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenditure incurred in relation to company duties.

  Fees and expenses will be met from within the Scottish Futures Trust’s operating budget. The operating budgets for 2008-09 will be set this autumn in the Autumn Budget Revision, and the budget for 2009-10 will be set out in the Budget Bill when it is published. Indicative budget levels were described in Taking forward the Scottish Futures Trust published in May 2008 (Bib. number 45605). Actual budget figures will reflect further refinement of estimates of likely costs.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the Chair of the Scottish Futures Trust company to have any conflicts of interest in respect of this role.

John Swinney: Sir Angus Grossart’s role as Chair of the Scottish Futures Trust is not to decide on award of contracts but to oversee the development and direction of SFT to secure better value for our infrastructure investment than has been achieved with methods used by previous administrations. We do not therefore expect issues of conflict of interest to arise.

  If a specific potential or actual conflict of interest were to arise, we would be absolutely certain that Sir Angus, as an experienced and professional company director of many years standing, would declare his interest and stand aside or withdraw from any further discussion on the issue in question.

Sexual Offences

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sex crimes have been reported in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriffdom.

Kenny MacAskill: The available data is given in the following table. This gives the numbers of crimes of indecency recorded by the police in Scotland from 2002-03 to 2006-07, by local authority. Note that this crime group comprises "rape and attempted rape", "indecent assault", "lewd and indecent behaviour" and "other crimes of indecency". "Other crimes of indecency" comprise the following crime categories: "incest", "unnatural crimes" and "procuration and other sexual offences". Since the source of this data is police recorded crime, it is not available by sheriffdom.

  

 Local Authority
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Aberdeen City
 336
 420
 495
 525
 604


 Aberdeenshire
 220
 180
 229
 242
 285


 Angus
 187
 138
 120
 97
 139


 Argyll and Bute
 119
 106
 83
 92
 94


 City of Edinburgh
 765
 689
 792
 654
 735


 City of Glasgow
 1,630
 1,729
 1,966
 1,293
 1,159


 Clackmannanshire
 54
 49
 44
 81
 65


 Dumfries and Galloway
 83
 133
 106
 136
 123


 Dundee City
 210
 236
 251
 296
 226


 East Ayrshire
 98
 102
 130
 103
 122


 East Dunbartonshire
 59
 26
 37
 26
 37


 East Lothian
 101
 154
 92
 89
 78


 East Renfrewshire
 50
 34
 27
 30
 24


 Eilean Siar 
 19
 47
 36
 31
 25


 Falkirk
 143
 136
 133
 197
 247


 Fife
 554
 504
 516
 479
 476


 Highland
 230
 248
 275
 258
 387


 Inverclyde
 80
 35
 59
 38
 51


 Midlothian
 102
 126
 90
 134
 100


 Moray
 97
 133
 134
 199
 113


 North Ayrshire
 114
 135
 165
 198
 191


 North Lanarkshire
 333
 277
 370
 288
 320


 Orkney Islands
 8
 11
 11
 9
 19


 Perth and Kinross
 115
 123
 96
 130
 117


 Renfrewshire
 150
 121
 171
 115
 133


 Scottish Borders
 121
 133
 133
 105
 76


 Shetland Islands
 10
 19
 23
 41
 24


 South Ayrshire
 79
 104
 109
 93
 124


 South Lanarkshire
 191
 227
 224
 177
 194


 Stirling
 104
 83
 70
 126
 85


 West Dunbartonshire
 78
 111
 105
 88
 110


 West Lothian
 183
 217
 232
 188
 243


 All Scotland
 6,623
 6,786
 7,324
 6,558
 6,726

Social Services

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it recognises the role that the codes of practice published by the Scottish Social Services Council play in the values of social services’ work and what priority it puts on the codes in its guidance to local authorities and the single outcome agreements.

Adam Ingram: The codes of practice for social service workers and employers, published by the Scottish Social Services Council, are a key part of the system of regulation introduced by the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 to raise standards of practice and delivery of social services.

  Employers and workers are responsible for ensuring they meet and abide by the standards set out in the codes whether they are in the public, voluntary or independent sector. The introduction of single outcome agreements does not change this requirement.

  Both the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Social Work Inspection Agency take account of adherence with the codes during inspections.

Social Services

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to ensure that codes of practice published by the Scottish Social Services Council are upheld during any re-tendering of services.

Adam Ingram: The tendering and commissioning of social care services is the responsibility of each local authority.

  Employers and workers are responsible for ensuring they meet and abide by the standards set out in the codes of practice for social service workers and employers published by the Scottish Social Services Council. Both the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Social Work Inspection Agency take account of adherence to these codes of practice during inspection visits.

Student Finance

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will begin its consultation on student support.

Fiona Hyslop: The consultation on student support will be launched later this year.

Taxation

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made of the impact on the Scottish block grant of a 4p in the pound reduction in the basic rate of income tax during the current spending review period and what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government on the matter.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16326 on 24 September 2008. For estimating purposes, it can be assumed that a four pence reduction in the basic rate of income tax in Scotland would reduce receipts by about £1.6 billion. The maximum change in the rate of income tax in Scotland permitted within current legislation is three pence in the pound. As I indicated in Draft Budget 2009-10 , published on 16 September 2008, the Scottish Government currently have no plans to invoke the powers in the Scotland Act to vary the rate of income tax in Scotland and has made no representations to Her Majesty’s Government on this matter.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Taxation

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made of the impact on the budget of an (a) 1p and (b) 2p in the pound reduction in income tax using the Parliament’s taxation powers under the Scotland Act 1998.

John Swinney: An estimate of the impact of taxation changes in Scotland is published by HM Treasury in the annual economic and fiscal strategy report. The most recent estimate, published on 12 March 2008, indicates that a one penny reduction in the Scottish variable rate of income tax in 2009-10 would reduce receipts by approximately £400 million.

  For estimating purposes it can be assumed that a two pence reduction in the Scottish variable rate would reduce receipts by £800 million.

Teachers

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time primary school teaching vacancies were in North Ayrshire in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007 and have been in 2008.

Fiona Hyslop: A snap-shot of the number of vacancies, by local authority, is published each year in Teacher Vacancies and Probationer Allocations , which is available on the Scottish Government website using the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/PubTeacherVacancies.

  The data relate to a set date in February. No information is collected on whether posts are full-time. Posts become vacant throughout the year.

Teachers

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time secondary school teaching vacancies there were in North Ayrshire in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007 and have been in 2008, broken down by subject.

Fiona Hyslop: A snap-shot of the number of vacancies, by local authority and subject, is published each year in the appendix of Teacher Vacancies and Probationer Allocations , which is available on the Scottish Government website using the following links:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/17090110/11

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/06/22095928/11

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/06/26092219/8.

  The data relate to a set date in February. No information is collected on whether posts are full-time. Posts become vacant throughout the year.

Teachers

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time primary school teaching vacancies there were in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007 and have been in 2008.

Fiona Hyslop: A snap-shot of the number of vacancies is published each year in Teacher Vacancies and Probationer Allocations , which is available on the Scottish Government website using the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/17090110/0 .

  The data relate to a set date in February. No information is collected on whether posts are full-time. Posts become vacant throughout the year.

Teachers

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary school teaching positions there were in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007 and have been in 2008, broken down by subject.

Fiona Hyslop: The number of secondary school teachers is published each year in Teachers in Scotland , which is available on the Scottish Government website using the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/18093809/42.

  Data for September 2008 is due to be published in March 2009.

Terrorism

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14780 by Frank Mulholland QC on 23 June 2008, what the disposal of the court was in relation to each conviction for offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 in the financial years 2003-04 to 2006-07 and how many of those convicted are still in custody.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. None of those given a custodial sentence are still in custody.

  Persons Convicted for Offences Under the Terrorism Act 20001, 2003-04 - 2006-07

  

 Disposal
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Custody 
 4
 6
 23
 9


 Community sentence 
 -
 -
 2
 -


 Fine 
 3
 5
 10
 7


 Admonished 
 3
 -
 18
 1


 Hospital order with restriction
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Total
 11
 11
 53
 17



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Tourism

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to introduce mentoring schemes among tourism-related industries.

Jim Mather: In partnership with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise supports Business Mentoring Scotland (BMS). The latest phase of BMS was launched on 20 August 2008. It aims to advise around 1,200 businesses per annum, across Scotland, including tourism-related businesses. This service provides three levels of support:

  Online information and registration facilities

  A series of group mentoring meetings across the network of local chambers to provide access to a wider pool of contacts and business knowledge and opportunities

  One-to-one mentoring

  Twenty tourism businesses have been supported by BMS so far this year. One hundred and sixteen tourism businesses were supported in 2007. Currently, 25 of the mentors have experience in tourism.

Transport

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14241 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 July 2008, whether Transport Scotland has now delivered its initial findings from the strategic transport projects review to ministers.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes.

Transport

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what engagement it and Transport Scotland have had with local businesses and other stakeholders about the location of the proposed railway station at Gogar.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland officials have held discussions with officials of City of Edinburgh Council and Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Limited concerning proposals for a new railway station in the Gogar area designed to integrate with the Edinburgh tram for onward connection to the airport. Transport Scotland has also engaged with SCA packaging and William Ewart Properties limited (owners of The Gyle shopping centre) as the landowners likely to be immediately affected by the proposed development.

  The project is currently at the design stage with an announcement regarding the location of the new station expected in Autumn 2008. As is normal at this stage of a project a mapping exercise has been completed to identify stakeholders and a broad ranging stakeholder engagement exercise will take place as the project progresses through its natural lifecycle.

Voluntary Sector

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned by the analysis of the Fairer Scotland Fund in Third Force News on 29 August 2008, which stated that "the voluntary sector is being squeezed out of the social inclusion process."

Stewart Maxwell: The voluntary sector is a valued partner in tackling poverty, inequality and deprivation in Scotland. The Scottish Government would be concerned if voluntary organisations were being denied involvement in dialogue aimed at reducing inequality.

  Voluntary organisations are making a huge contribution at national and local level in areas such as financial inclusion, income maximisation and the promotion of employability. Well developed relationships with a wide range of client groups is a crucial element of this.

  The voluntary sector has a key role to play, working in partnership with local authorities and other community planning partners, in taking forward the anti-poverty framework and delivery of the government’s Solidarity target.

  We are committed to ensuring that the entire third sector, which includes voluntary organisations and social enterprises, plays a central part in our overarching purpose to create a successful country where all can flourish.

  Our commitment to the third sector is underpinned by a funding package worth £93 million over the three year period 2008-11 to support development and capacity building in the sector. This represents a 37% increase in funding.

Voluntary Sector

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16026 by John Swinney on 11 September 2008, whether it will detail all funding applications from voluntary organisations since May 2007 that were agreed in principle by the First Minister and subsequently agreed by officials.

John Swinney: The information sought could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.